Education and Mathematics Division
Master of Arts in Education
Academic Areas of Study
Complete an Interest Form
Degree Requirements
Component 1 - Required Education Courses (12 credits)
Focuses on and increases the teacher’s understanding of children and adolescents,
the conditions under which learning takes place, the organization of curricula, the
implementation of effective instructional strategies, and the social, moral, political,
familial, economic, historical, global, and cultural issues influencing educational
policies and practices.
EDU 700 Diversity Among Learners - 3 credits
EDU 715 Seminar: Issues and Problems Affecting Education - 3 credits
EDU 740 Curriculum Design - 3 credits
EDU 742 Instructional Strategies - 3 credits
Component 2 – Professional Expertise (12 credits)
Strengthens the teacher’s understanding of the subject/content area or grade level
currently taught or contributes to the teacher’s general professional expertise.
Option 1 - Special Emphasis: Course work (minimum of nine credits; subject
areas vary) is taken in a specialized area. The Special Emphasis could be in a
subject area, such as music, art, or English, or it could be in an area of interest,
such as technology, controversial issues in education, urban education (partnership
with Milwaukee Teacher Education Center), or Waldorf Education (partnership
with Great Lakes Teacher Training Institute). To receive this special recognition,
one must relate the instructional project (see below) to a topic within the Special
Emphasis. Special emphases in adaptive education and reading also meet requirements
for Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction licenses.
Option 2 – Practice-Based Emphasis: Course work is taken in the teacher’s subject area(s) and other areas having direct application to the teacher’s practice. Teachers may choose from a wide array of electives.
Component 3 - Seminar and Instructional Project (6 credits)
This component is the culmination of the master’s degree program. In a specific
instructional setting, the teacher applies her/his knowledge, pedagogical expertise,
and craftsmanship to a classroom-based action research project.
EDU 705 Introduction to Professional Inquiry - 2 credits
EDU 706 Instructional Project - 4 credits